Aidan O'Connell gains fan in former Raiders QB amid rising starter competition
Aidan O'Connell was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of last year's draft. With the team going into the season with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter and with Brian Hoyer as their backup, there wasn't much thought of O'Connell having an impact on the team in his rookie season.
Fast forward to the end of the season, O'Connell had the Raiders on the brink of a playoff appearance and finished the season 5-5 as their starting quarterback.
Hoyer, who was a spot ahead of him, praised O'Connell for the growth he experienced during his rookie season. Appearing on SiriusXM radio, Hoyer raved about the success O'Connell had.
"At the beginning of the year, he was third on the depth chart and then he ended up finishing the entire year. I thought, to see his growth and what he was able to do as a fourth-round pick, was tremendous... Being there firsthand and watching Aidan grow, I remember him saying at the end of the year, ‘I never thought this is how this year would play out.' Obviously, Jimmy Garoppolo was the opening-day starter and then by the end of the year, Aidan was playing."
O'Connell completed 62.1 percent of passes for 2,218 yards 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. There is a chance he could start this season for the Raiders.
Aidan O'Connell will have a quarterback battle with Gardner Minshew this off-season for the starting spot
While Aidan O'Connell finished the year as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback, he will have to earn that position this off-season.
Despite his late emergence last season, nothing was guaranteed heading into this season with him being the Raiders' starting quarterback. In the off-season, the team signed free agent Gardner Minshew to a two-year deal to compete for the starting job with O'Connell.
Even though there will be a battle in Las Vegas, it seems as if Aidan O'Connell has the upper hand. In early May, head coach Antonio Pierce indicated that the starting job is O'Connell's to lose.
Pierce said:
"Aidan's earned the right to go out there and get the first snap. He's not worried about anything. I'm excited."
The Raiders, who held the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, failed to draft a quarterback as six were selected by the time they were on the clock.
Minshew filled in for Anthony Richardson last season for the Indianapolis Colts and went 7-6 as their starting quarterback.
Who do you think will start for the Raiders this season?